Smoothies are such a fantastic way to get the vitamins, minerals, and fiber from lots of fruit without eating it straight up. Even pure fruit juice on its own can be a massive straight shot of sugar to your system, have you ever felt a crazy rush after some really good juice? I remember the first fresh carrot-apple juice I had, years ago. I grabbed it as a healthy breakfast before running to class. It was like a cup of delicious candy and I immediately felt like I'd had a cup of the best coffee ever.. so alert! so energized! OMG what is this magical liquid that has given me super human strength?!.... Unfortunately for me, it was followed by a terrible crash. I was shocked! Yes, it is packed with great things for you like you've just had an entire bunch of carrots and a couple apples but all that sugar in your system is hard on your liver and without the fiber from the plant it is a jolt that is harder to process and can cause spikes and crashes in blood sugar and mood swings. The fiber from your smoothies helps soften that delicious sugary blow. What's even better than a smoothie? A smoothie popsicle! I found some really affordable popsicle molds at IKEA and decided high summer temperatures call for some popsicles on hand. They are tasty and nutritious and make a great snack.

smoothie pops

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup almond milk

1 ripe banana

3 large fresh strawberries

Optional: a handful of fresh spinach, greens powder, vegan protein powder (my favorite is PaleoMeal-DF -- make sure it is marked DF, otherwise it is not vegan), chia seeds

* You could use any fruit you like, fresh or frozen, but the bananas really lend the sweetness you're looking for from a popsicle, ripe is best. Frozen mangos in place of strawberries will give you a creamier bar or add a drop of vanilla and omit strawberries for an orange-julius bar. Sub a strong batch of your favorite herbal tea for some of the OJ or almond milk for added herbal goodness.

Blend all ingredients together then pour into your popsicle molds. Allow to freeze solid, gently remove from mold (running the outer plastic part under warm water helps release it), and enjoy!